In early March 2021, the band started teasing towards the release by posting various teasers before announcing the songs on March 8.[2] "Follow You" and "Cutthroat" mark the first solo releases from Imagine Dragons since their 2018 album, Origins.[3]
"Follow You" was inspired by frontman Dan Reynolds' relationship with his wife Aja Volkman. Reynolds wrote the song soon after receiving a "life-changing" text from Volkman, having not spoken to her in seven months, while on his way to finalize their divorce. About the writing process, he revealed, "I wrote 'Follow You' after we got back together. I wanted it to represent a love that is realistic. One where love isn't perfect but it endures."[4]
This song is featured as a DLC in Fuser, released on June 15, 2021.[5]
Commercial performance
"Follow You" peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also wrapped the group's quickest climb to No. 1 on Alternative Airplay, usurping the seven-week ascents for "Believer" in 2017 and "Natural" in 2018. That same week, it had 5.1 million audience impressions, up 15% from the previous week, according to MRC Data.[6]
Nearly two months after leading Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, "Follow You" went number one the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay survey, rising 2-1 on the list dated June 19.
The song reigns with 7 million audience impressions, up 2%, in the week ending June 13, according to MRC Data.[7]
In September 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Airplay,[8]Billboard published a list of the top 100 most successful songs in the chart's history; "Follow You" was ranked at number 49.[9]
Music video
The music video involves It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Kaitlin Olson and creator Rob McElhenney, who was given this concert for his birthday, despite Imagine Dragons being Kaitlin's favorite and Rob's favorite being The Killers, who, like ID, come from Las Vegas. Both of them imagine different wild fantasies while hearing them perform "Follow You". After the song, both of them leave, to which Dan Reynolds tells them they have 10 more songs to perform, though the two still leave "before they play Radioactive".[10][11]
Track listings and formats
Double single cover
7" vinyl/CD single/digital download[12][13]
"Follow You" – 2:55
"Cutthroat" – 2:49
Digital download – Summer '21 Version[14]
"Follow You" (Summer '21 Version) – 2:52
Streaming – Summer '21 Version (Spotify edition)[15]
^"Mercury – Act 1 by Imagine Dragons". Apple Music. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
^Hill, Eliot (March 8, 2021). "Imagine Dragons Announce 2 New Songs 'Follow You' And 'Cutthroat'". IHeartRadio. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^Legaspi, Althea (March 12, 2021). "Imagine Dragons Drop New Songs 'Follow You,' 'Cutthroat'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^Stone, Megan (March 12, 2021). "Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds explains significance behind new songs "Follow You" and "Cutthroat"". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons Complete Their Quickest Climb to No. 1 on Alternative Airplay With 'Follow You'". www.billboard.com. April 22, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons' 'Follow You' Rules Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
^Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^"Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^Imagine Dragons - Follow You (Official Music Video), retrieved November 14, 2021
^Shaffer, Claire (March 16, 2021). "Imagine Dragons Share Hilarious 'Follow You' Video With 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Cast". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
^ a b"Follow You / Cutthroat - Single by Imagine Dragons on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
^ a bPhysical releases for "Follow You/Cutthroat":
"Follow You/Cutthroat 7" Dual Single". Imagine Dragons Official Store. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
"Follow You/Cutthroat CD Dual Single". Imagine Dragons Official Store. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
^ a bDigital releases for "Follow You (Summer '21 Version)":
"Follow You (Summer '21 Version) - Single by Imagine Dragons on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
"Follow You (Summer '21 Version) / Imagine Dragons – TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
"Follow You (Summer '21 Version) - Imagine Dragons - Deezer". Deezer (US). June 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
"Follow You (Summer '21 Version) by Imagine Dragons on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". Amazon Music (US). Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
^ a b"Follow You (Summer '21 Version) - Single by Imagine Dragons". Spotify (US). Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
^"Credits / Follow You / Cutthroat / Imagine Dragons - TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons – Follow You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons – Follow You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons – Follow You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
^Imagine Dragons — Follow You. TopHit. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202119 into search. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202122 into search. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
^"Top Singles (Week 30, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
^"Radio-Charts Deutschland – Chartwoche 23/2021" (in German). MusicTrace Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
^"Imagine Dragons Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^"2021 16-os SAVAITĖS (balandžio 16-22 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
^"Imagine Dragons – Follow You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^"NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
^"Singel 2021-W11". VG-lista. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
^"Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^"Top 5 Airplay TV". Polish Video Chart. ZPAV. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
^"Imagine Dragons – Follow You". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
^"Russia Airplay Chart for 2021-05-14." TopHit. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202125 into search. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202123 into search. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^"Veckolista Singlar, vecka 11". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
^"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
^"Jaaroverzichten – Single 2021" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
^""Friday" Riton i Nightcrawlers z udziałem Mufasa & Hypemana – radiowym numerem jeden w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
^"Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart – 2021". TopHit. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
^"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^"Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart – 2021". TopHit. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
^"Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
^"Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
^"Portuguese single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Follow You" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^"Spanish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Follow You". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^Fontana, Stefano. "Imagine Dragons 'Follow You' (Radio Date: 12/03/2021)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^"Alternative Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^"Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". All Access. Retrieved October 13, 2021.